Kevin Ball pens his weekly pre-match column, this time taking a look at Leicester City’s squad ahead of Tuesday’s trip to the King Power Stadium.
Injured: Marc Albrighton (doubt), Wes Morgan (doubt), Nampalys Mendy (knee), Molla Wague (shoulder).
Wilfred Ndidi
N’Golo Kante was key to Leicester City’s title win and he’s played a similar role during his first season at Stamford Bridge, so replacing him was always going to be nigh-on impossible. In the first half of the campaign, Leicester struggled without the dynamic midfielder but it’s no surprise that their fortunes have changed since the arrival of Wilfred Ndidi – and what a goal that was on Saturday! Just 20, the Nigerian has really impressed me since a January move from Genk, and, should he continue to develop, he could well follow in Kante’s footsteps and seal a move to one of Europe’s elite clubs.
Kasper Schmeichel
Few players have reached the heights they did last season within the Leicester ranks, but Kasper Schmeichel can hold his head up and honestly say he’s given his all. He’s made big saves all season but in recent weeks he’s made ones that matter, with the Foxes’ attacking ranks once again clicking into gear to seal big wins over West Ham United, Hull City, Liverpool and Stoke City. He also showed his class in the UEFA Champions League, making some crucial penalty saves – amongst other stops – to ensure their European adventure continued. Jermain Defoe will once again hold the key to Sunderland’s success, but he’ll face few better goalkeepers between now and the end of the season.
Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy seems an obvious pick but a quick glance at the stats makes him impossible to ignore. He’s scored 13 goals this season but six of them have come in the last eight games, with a goal against England – after replacing Jermain – adding to his confidence ahead of the final run-in. He’s also grabbed a club-high four PL assists this campaign and we all know how hard his pace and direct style can be to defend against, so Lamine Kone and John O’Shea will have to at their best to ensure his impact is minimal.
Christian Fuchs
Christian Fuchs is a player I like – he isn’t flash and often flies under the radar, but he’s reliable and goes about his business with minimal fuss. He’s made 38 appearances this season and grabbed a couple of goals in the process, while also notching three assists so his contribution in the final third can’t be underestimated. He loves a tackle and tops Leicester’s stats for tackles made, and he’s also made more interceptions than anyone else within the Foxes’ ranks. That said, he’s picked up nine yellow cards this season and has a tendency to dive in, so an early booking would make for an interesting scenario.
Leonardo Ulloa
If the gossip columns are to be believed, Leornardo Ulloa could well have been lining up against the Foxes during this game with a Wearside move tipped by many back in January. Instead, he remained at the King Power Stadium but he’s yet to play a single minute of football since Leicester’s Emirates FA Cup win over Everton on 7 January. That said, football has a funny way of creating its own narrative and it would be oh so typical - albeit unlikely - for him to play a part against the Black Cats. Watch this space…
